Improvement in paint-cans



E. NORTON.

PAINT-CAN.

No.188,0 26. Patented March 6,1877.

N. PETERS, FHOTO-LITHOGHAPHER. WASHINGTUN, o C

NITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

EDWIN NORTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN PAINT-CANS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 188,026, dated March 6, 1877 application filed January 8, 1677.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWIN NORTON, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paint-Cans; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to cans for paints and colors; and it consists in so constructing such can that it can be filled with the whole cover off, and in so arranging the same that the cover may be cut ofi, leaving the opening smooth and clean for removing the paint, and that the cover can then be used again to keep the contents of the can air-tight until used up. This is accomplished by making the rim of the can cover of soft metal and providing the same with a series of annular beads or rings, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation. of the improved paint-can, showing the cover cut off. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the can and cover. Fig. 3 is a detail.

. A represents the can proper, and B is the cover, which latter'is provided with a softmetal rim, G. In this rim 0 a suitable distance below the cover is circumferential head a, projecting inward, to let the top edge of the can A come up against, flush, for the purpose of keeping the paint back while soldering, and also to serve as a guide for the knife in cutting the can open. Near the lower edge of the rim 0 isanother circumferential bead, b, projecting outward, to strengthen the thin metal and, in connection with ya corresponding bead, 01, near the top of the body of the can A, to serve as a guide to the copper in soldering on the cover and to form a groove for the solder. The bead I) also makes a shoulder on the can when the top is cut ofl' to shut the cover down against, to make it airtight.

When the can is filled the cover is put on. The parts are so made that the cover goes on easily abouthalfway when it binds, but, by pressing hard, the bead 1) near the bottom of the rim 0 springs, and, being of soft metal, adapts itself to the inequalities of the surface; and when pushed down so that the top of the can-body A presses tightly against the inwardly-projecting head a of the cover, the can is air-tight, and can be easily soldered around between the two beads b and d without leakage.

To open the can a pen-knife or sharp instrument is run around in the upper bead a and the top out oif with about half the rim. This is soft, and by running any instrument around inside itas, for instance, a paintbrush handleit can be formed outward enough to fit closely over the top of the can, and keep the contents of the can secure from exposure to the air, &c.

Having thus fully described this invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a paint-can, the cover B, having its soft-metal rim 0 provided with the inwardlyprojecting bead a and the outwardly-projecting bead b, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. The combination of the can-body A, hav-, ing bead d, and the cover B, with soft-metal rim 0, having heads a b, all constructed substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth. 4

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWIN NORTON. Witnesses:

OLIVER W. NORTON, HENRY M. N OBTON. 

